X Games

Monday, 25 July 2011 14:00

Seven Metal Mulisha athletes will compete for gold in in multiple FMX disciplines, rally and BMX at Staples Center

Following last year's 10 team medals, the Metal Mulisha is once again bringing its full arsenal to Los Angeles for X Games 17, from July 28 -31. This year, all events will take place in and around place Staples Center, where Mulisha will look to increase its tally of more than 50 medals since 1999.

This year, Metal Mulisha will have seven athletes competing in six events, including Best Trick, Step Up, Best Whip, Rally and BMX. Among the top storylines as Mulisha prepares to continue its long run of success on action sports' biggest stage:

• 'The General' Brian Deegan will look to improve on his silver medal in Super Rally with a brand-new custom Ford Fiesta, which features a black, red and white Metal Mulisha tiger shark design. The much anticipated Rally Racing events will take place in Lot 7, outside of Staples Center, on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st. Earlier in the week, Deegan will also compete in Step up on Thursday, July 28th.  
• Todd Potter will have the busiest week of any Mulisha team rider, competing in Best Whip, where he aims to capture a fourth consecutive gold medal, Speed & Style for the first time in his career, and Step Up.
• Looking to make a big impact on American audiences, Australia's Jackson 'Jacko' Strong, has been preparing to land the first-ever front flip in competition during this year's Best Trick event. In 2010, Mulisha rider and fellow Aussie Cam Sinclair won gold with a double backflip, an honor he's looking to repeat in 2011.
• The Mulisha team will be missing another one of its family members during X17. Fan favorite and X Games 16 veteran Jeff 'Ox' Kargola passed away in April from injuries sustained while riding in Baja, Mexico. Ox will be honored with a tribute video prior to the Step Up competition on Thursday, July 28th. Metal Mulisha riders and fans will also be wearing memorial Ox tees, which are available at www.metalmulisha.com, benefitting the Jeff 'Ox' Kargola Fund.
• Japanese rider and fan favorite Taka Higashino is riding for his home country this year, which experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March. Taka has been active in recovery efforts for Japan relief, specifically with the local freestyle moto community. In April, Mulisha created a special Taka t-shirt to benefit the Banzai Fund and Red Cross.
• X Games veteran Ronnie Faisst, bronze-medal winner in last year's dramatic Speed & Style final, is looking to increase his medal count, shortly after breaking his femur on the Nuclear Cowboyz tour.
• Brandon Dosch, gold medalist in BMX Dirt on the 2010 Dew Tour, will look to have the same success at BMX Park, which kicks off on Thursday, July 28th at the L.A. Live Event Deck.

"X Games is our time in the national spotlight and we're always looking forward to putting on a show for the country," said Metal Mulisha rider and Marketing Director, Ryan Hagy. "The Mulisha Nation will be out in full force all week, supporting our riders across FMX, Rally and BMX."

Mulisha Nation fans can get up-close-and-personal with team riders, who will be signing autographs from Thursday through Sunday, both at the Ford Tent and X Fest in L.A. Live. The brand has also partnered with Ford for an 'I Win! You Win! competition,' where a Mulisha gold medal will win one fan a Mulisha-wrapped Ford Fiesta.

"We have a mix of young riders competing this year, along with some vets like myself, Potter and Faisst, which will give fans a chance to see the current and future crop of the Mulisha family," said Mulisha founder Brian Deegan. "With a new rally car and more practice time on the track, this is the most confident I've been going into an X Games."

For more info on Metal Mulisha riders, news and X Games appearances, visit www.metalmulisha.com 

Metal Mulisha Rider Lineup and Schedule - X Games 17

Best Trick
Taka Higashino JAPAN
Cameron Sinclair AUS
Jackson 'Jacko' Strong AUS

Speed & Style
Todd Potter USA
Ronnie Faisst USA

Step Up
Brian Deegan USA
Todd Potter USA

Rally
Brian Deegan USA

Rallycross
Brian Deegan USA

Best Whip
Todd Potter USA

BMX Freestyle Park
Brandon Dosch USA

Thursday, July 28
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. BMX Park Elimination
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Moto Step-Up Final
5:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Moto X Best Whip
6:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Moto X Best Trick

Friday, July 29
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Moto X Freestyle, Round 1
5:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Moto X Freestyle Final // STAPLES Center

Saturday, July 30
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. BMX Park, Round 1// Event Deck, L.A. Live
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. BMX Park, Round 1// Event Deck, L.A. Live
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Rally Car Racing Final// Lot 7
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Moto X Speed and Style Final// STAPLES Center

Sunday, July 31
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. RallyCross Final // Lot 7
4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. BMX Street, Round 1 and Final// Event Deck, L.A. Live
6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Moto X Enduro, Round 1 and Last Chance Qualifier// STAPLES Center
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Moto X Enduro, Final// STAPLES Center

Metal Mulisha autograph signings:
Thursday, July 28th: 11:00AM-12:00PM @ Ford Tent (L.A. Live)
Friday, July 29th: 1-2PM @ Ford Tent (L.A. Live)
Friday, July 29th: 3:15-3:45 @ X Fest
Saturday, July 30th: 1-2PM @ Ford Tent (L.A. Live)
Friday, July 29th: 1-2PM @ X Fest